May 2, 2005

Forbes Magazine Article - Garmin Streetpilot C330

The folks over at Forbes Magazine seem to love the Garmin Streetpilot C330 GPS receiver for the automobile. The key here was the Garmin interface, as they certainly have done their work to nail this critical component. The set is small enough to carry from car to car, but the screen is big enough to use easily while on the road. The audible turn by turn commands are a cost of entry into this market.

Who hasn't been lost? In those clutch situations, you need an easy to use, quick interface to get down to business and get to where you are going, right? Forbes appreciates the simplicity, and let's face it, getting from here to there sometimes just isn't simple.

The c330 comes with maps included (no downloading needed), millions of points of interest, it has a touchscreen, easy windshield mounting, and it is easy to carry while traveling.

Forbes says: â€œThe reason I like it so much is its easy-to-understand interface. Garmin has always had a good software interface on both its automotive and handheld devices, and describing the new interface on the c330 as simple doesn't quite do it justice. It's now so easy to operate, I would give this gadget as a gift to even the most techno-phobic of my friends or family, and not worry that they would need a lesson. It's so easy--I used it right out of the box without opening the instruction manual once.

After a one-time three-minute setup, two buttons appear on the screen: "Where To?" and "View Map." Touch one or the other with a finger, and you're off and running. All of the controls, aside from power and volume, are on the touch screen.

The "Where To?" button lets you tell the device where you want to go. When I entered an address, by typing directly on the screen, in Manhattan from a location on eastern Long Island, the device took about 15 seconds to calculate the turn-by-turn directions. While I was driving, the unit gave volume-controlled voice cues to let me know a turn was coming up.

Previous GPS receivers have been a little too geeky for the masses. This one is easy enough for anyone to use.â€ Looks like a winner.

"Forbes Article Garmin Streetpilot C330"

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